August 2021 Grocery Challenge

Suffolk_lass

nannygladys said:

Well I handed over 50p in the library for reserving a book, I didn't realise you had to pay. So I have ended my 4 weeks with just 59p!! At least I've done it - yay

Getting quite a lot of veggies off my allotment, so spending on veg is practically non existent which helps. Going to carry on with the same amount for the next 4 weeks from tomorrow, hopefully I'll be able to do it again.
Nannyg

@nannygladys well done! Definitely growing some of your own veg helps. We do that (at home, as we have quite a large garden)

elsiepac

Well done @nannygladys although what a shame your library charges to reserve! I am very lucky mine doesn't and also has an excellent app you can use to search the whole group in the council area for the titles you want.

goldfinches

@nannygladys - that is a shame that you had to pay for a book reservation, but well done on hitting your four week target.
My county library service also charges for reservations so I was interested to read that @elsiepac has a better deal in her county. I do think charging for reservations is counterproductive as it discourages readers and means the library service has to buy more copies of books they know will be popular.

I've bust my budget by 15p today but I think that might be it for the month provided nothing unexpected happens so I'm crossing my fingers.
I knew I was going to need more milk and yoghurt before the end of the month and as I was passing M*rks on my way home from the hair salon at around 6:45pm today I thought I'd just look and see if either were reduced and I managed to get 8 pints of green milk for £1.30. I decided then and there that I'll use the porridge oats in the cupboard to have overnight oats instead of yoghurt to get me to the end of the month without spending any more money.
That makes my new total £124.15/£124 and my average daily spend £4.43.

boultdj

Did my last shop for this month yesterday. Calling at £184.06/£150.
£34.06 over. Still room for improvement.

thriftwizard

Well, I spent just under £20 at the supermarket today & might just have sneaked in under budget after buying the fresh fruit & veg at the market tomorrow, but horror of all horrors, we've discovered an outbreak of Indianmeal or Pantry moths in the main storecupboard, and had to chuck a whole lot of stuff out. I've managed to throw the big bags of flour, sugar, nuts etc., into the old freezer - lucky I hadn't got round to emptying it & turning it off - but everything else has had to go out & much of it (but not all) will need to be replaced. Which would put me way, way over. Even though I probably shan't be able to do much tomorrow, because I'm working away this weekend, I'll count all the replacing as proper to this month's budget and I'm estimating it would be at least £30. Oh bother...

goldfinches

thriftwizard said:

Well, I spent just under £20 at the supermarket today & might just have sneaked in under budget after buying the fresh fruit & veg at the market tomorrow, but horror of all horrors, we've discovered an outbreak of Indianmeal or Pantry moths in the main storecupboard, and had to chuck a whole lot of stuff out. I've managed to throw the big bags of flour, sugar, nuts etc., into the old freezer - lucky I hadn't got round to emptying it & turning it off - but everything else has had to go out & much of it (but not all) will need to be replaced. Which would put me way, way over. Even though I probably shan't be able to do much tomorrow, because I'm working away this weekend, I'll count all the replacing as proper to this month's budget and I'm estimating it would be at least £30. Oh bother...

Ghastly news @thriftwizard - hugs and sympathy from this direction for the sacrifice you're making. Blasted horrible things moths are and it only takes one to sneak past you and lay eggs to start a massive infestation. Nasty little b*gg*rs they are, I wonder if they're the reincarnation of politicians or litter droppers, I wouldn't be in the least bit surprised if they were. 

LunaCatty

I picked up 8kg of victoria plums for jams/pie filling plus the same again for local apples as well as some staples (butter, cheddar block, yoghurt etc) this week so £38.80 in total taking me to £152.42/£150. I think that will be it for us for the month so although a little over budget, and despite the mess up with T*sco at the start of the month, not too bad! Now to go do a freezer and cupboard check and set next month's budget  

LadyWithAPlan

@nannygladys wow thats very impressive. Well done.

Aug 16th to 31st  Groceries Challenge £53.56 / £70 

Grocery £8.78  – M+S reduced – including some dips/chips. 

I like @goldfinches accidentally walked past a M&S...

I did not need any of this – I have a full fridge/freezer but was walking past M&S at about 6pm ish when I know they reduce food by me. Not as good a bargain as sometimes – I think maybe Mondays are better but still I have enough food to last 2 or 3 weeks I think.  Aim now  is to stop filling fridge and eat some of it as no space left  in my small freezer.

However this is my first ever attempt at a grocery challenge so feeling good. My normal budget is £200 per month for groceries - Sept aim is £170 

K9sandFelines

I've tried to tot up my spends, but a few things have gone astray. So I am not sure if I've spent a little bit more than accounted for.
I haven't managed to get many reduced items or things from Olio, and limited food from work.
I am about £6 over according to my sums. So this brings me £254.88/250.
My month ended on Thursday, as that is my Payday. 
Off over to the September challenge now. Good luck all. 

Mrs_Cheshire

Hi all, had a lovely week away in Northumberland but glad to be back home (missed my comfy bed lol). Have totted up the spends and my months total stands at £321.13/£350. Really pleased with this as it includes all the food we bought to have in the caravan whilst away on holiday. 

Our freezer is nearly empty so will find some time on Wednesday to go through it and plan September's meals - see you over on that chat